# Quick, how do I grow bamboo in a spiral? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880 "2006-08-15T21:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/1 "2006-08-15T21:48:15Z")
Hey everyone, I have taken custody of a small decorative, “lucky bamboo,” plant as of this afternoon. What I would like to do is grow it in a spiral as I’ve seen others do. How exactly is this done. I assume that it’s a result of some effect of the plant tending to grow towards the main light source in the window, but how often should I rotate it and how far for good effect? Any other tricks? ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/2 "2006-08-15T21:59:12Z")
Actually, I believe it is wrapped carefully around a pole until it is “trained”. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/3 "2006-08-15T22:08:49Z")
It’s the light thing, but it takes a very very long time. [http://www.espritdeisle.com/faqs-and-facts.htm](http://www.espritdeisle.com/faqs-and-facts.htm) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/4 "2006-08-15T22:24:48Z")
“Lucky bamboo” isn’t actually bamboo, from what I understand. It’s a dracaena species. From [here](http://www.orchidsasia.com/greens02.htm): > [@](#): > > How to make Curly Bamboo : Curly Bamboo are not grown like what you see. Actually, lucky bamboo only grows straight. Therefore it need some special growing techniques to make it curl. There are several method to make it curl. one is that the growers keep the plants in a greenhouse, cover 3 sides so that only one side has bright light and let the plants grow naturally toward the light. Then manually rotate the plants periodically to produce the curl. Normally it take more than 6 month to make one loop or wavely curly bamboo for larger or more curly ones will take longer. The other one is using wire. But all methods are labour intensive processes. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/5 "2006-08-16T03:12:34Z")
I had a lucky bamboo for about 3 years before I moved here. The leaves grew a lot, but the stalk never did. Don’t know why. If you want a twisty one, it sounds like you’re better off just buying one. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quick-how-do-i-grow-bamboo-in-a-spiral/368880/6 "2006-08-16T08:31:59Z")
The stalk never gros in length. However,rather than buy new ones, youcan easily grow new onces from cutings of the greem stems with leaves, cut just below a bract (segment ring). they will grow straight however, and require training to be curly, just as the original stalk did